(Spencer)– An updated study into the region’s workforce has been completed.
Kathy Evert of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development says the laborshed analysis is updated atleast every three years and was conducted by Iowa Workforce Development.
Evert says there were few surprises in the findings, saying the study reconfirms what’s been known for some time: the area has low unemployment and lower unemployment when compared with other parts of Iowa.
The study, conducted last summer, consisted of telephone surveys of more 1,100 residents/employees in the region between the ages of 18 and 64. Of that group, 82 percent were employed; 4.7 percent unemployed; 6.5 percent were homemakers and 6.8 percent were unemployed.
The study found that most individuals were willing to commute 22 miles one way for employment; more than 25 percent of those currently working would be willing to accept or change employment for the right opportunity; and a good share of homemakers and retirees would be willing to re-enter the workforce.
Evert says another interesting statistic is that more than 30 percent of the respondents expressed an interest in starting their own business.
The analysis also provides education and median wage information of the respondents by the industry in which they are employed, what resources are used in seeking employment opportunities and what benefits they are currently offered.
The regional laborshed anaylysis is available for the Estherville, Spencer, Spirit Lake and Storm Lake nodes and is available by specific industries.
Detailed reports are available for a fee from the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation office in Spencer or on line at the Corridor’s website.
